Apparatus and method for securing a pane against impact

ABSTRACT

A window or door has a glass pane ( 2 ). In order to secure the pane ( 2 ), e.g. against fall-out under impact load or against forced entry, an adhesive film ( 3 ) covers the pane ( 2 ) and overlaps the surrounding inside surface ( 4 ) of a frame ( 1 ). Clamping profile ( 5 ) is attached along the inside surface ( 4 ) of the frame ( 1 ) adjacent the pane ( 2 ) to clamp the overlapping edge ( 3   1 ) of the film ( 3 ) against the frame ( 1 ). The clamping profile ( 5 ) has a gasket ( 11 ) abutting against the film ( 3 ) on the pane ( 2 ). In order to secure against increased impact loads and hinder tearing of the film ( 3 ), the profile ( 5 ) has a curved portion ( 8 ) and the gasket ( 11 ) protrudes from the profile ( 5 ) so as to form a space ( 15 ) around the curved portion ( 8 ) and allow stretching movement of the film ( 3 ) around the curved portion ( 8 ) during an impact.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for securing apane of a window or door against impact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to apply window safety film, commonly called applied windowfilm, to the inside face of window panes to prevent glass shattering.Such applied window film consists of a layer or layers of thin polyesteradhesive film, which is applied to the inside surface of the glass toimprove impact resistance, and also to hold loose shards of glasstogether when the glass is broken by an impact.

Such applied window films will reduce bomb blast injuries, since thefilm holds the loose shards together and the whole window pane will dropto the ground as one piece rather than hundreds of cutting shards.Similarly, such films are extensively used in schools and hospitals toresist falling body impact, e.g. where persons trip and fall against nonsafety-rated glass. The glass shatters, but it does not disintegrateinto multiple shards, because the applied window film holds the shardstogether.

Thicker and stronger films are used to improve smash and grab resistanceof retail shop windows. However, it is possible to gain entry by using alever bar to prise the glass and film away from the edge of the frame,thus creating a hole to allow entry therethrough, e.g. smash and grab orforced entry.

When applied window film is fitted to the inside face of the glass of awindow or door, a gap is usually left around the edge of the pane wherethe film is trimmed against the frame. This means that the glass andapplied window film can drop out of the window or door frame if enoughforce is applied. After bomb blasts it is common to see complete glasssheets with applied film lying inside a building.

It is known to apply the film to the pane so that it overlaps thesurrounding frame and to use a beading or profile to clamp theoverlapping film to the surrounding frame. Although this does increasethe security of the pane against impact considerably, there is atendency for the film to stretch and tear along the edge of the profileduring an impact. Furthermore, where the profile has a gasket engagingthe film on the pane, there is also a tendency for the gasket to bepulled out by the film as it stretches during an impact.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a methodfor securing a pane of a window or door against impact and avoiding theabove-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus for securing a pane of a windowor door against impact comprising an adhesive film for covering the paneand overlapping a frame surrounding the pane and a clamping profilecomprising a first elongate side portion attachable by fixing meanstherethrough to the surrounding frame to clamp the overlapping film, anda second elongate side portion having a gasket protruding therefrom forcushioning impact movement of the pane and film, wherein the first andsecond elongate side portions are substantially at right angles to eachother and are connected by an elongate curved portion of the profile soas to provide substantially continuous support for the film from thefirst elongate side portion to the gasket during an impact on the paneand thereby minimise the risk of a tear of the film during impact, theouter surface of the curved portion of the profile having a radius ofcurvature from 4 mm to 15 mm.

The invention further provides a window or door having a pane andapparatus securing the pane against impact comprising an adhesive filmcovering the pane and overlapping the surrounding frame and a clampingprofile compising a first elongate side portion attached by fixing meanstherethrough to the surrounding frame to clamp the overlapping film, anda second elongate side portion having a gasket protruding therefrom forcushioning impact movement of the pane and film, wherein the first andsecond elongate side portions are subtantially at right angles to eachother and are connected by an elongate curved portion of the profile tominimise the risk of tearing of the film during an impact on the pane,the outer surface of the curved portion of the profile having a radiusof curvature from 4 mm to 15 mm.

The invention still further provides a method of securing a pane of awindow or door against impact using an apparatus for securing a pane ofa window or door against impact comprising an adhesive film for coveringthe pane and overlapping the surrounding frame and a clamping profilecomprising a first elongate side portion attachable by fixing meanstherethrough to the surrounding frame to clamp the overlapping film, anda second elongate side portion having a gasket protruding therefrom forcushioning impact movement of the pane and film, wherein the first andsecond elongate side portions are substantially at right angles to eachother and are connected by an elonge curved portion of the profile so asto provide subtantially continuous support for the film from the firstelongate side portion to the gasket during an impact on the plane andthereby minimise the risk of tearing of the film during impact, theouter surface of the curved portion of the profile having a radius ofcurvature from 4 mm to 15 mm. The method of securing comprises coveringthe pane and overlapping the surrounding frame with the adhesive film,positioning the clamping profile on the surrounding frame so that thegasket abuts against the film on the pane and the first elongate sideportion to the surrounding frame by fixing means therethrough so as toclamp the overlapping film against the surrounding frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section through part of a window provided with a firstembodiment of apparatus according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through part of a window provided with asecond embodiment of apparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 a window frame 1 has a glass pane 2. A sheet of applied windowfilm 3 is installed on the inside of the pane 2 and beyond the edgethereof so as to overlap at its edge 3 ¹ the inside surface 4 of theframe 1. Clamping profile or beadings comprises a first elongate sideportion 6 facing the inside surface 4 of the frame 1, a second elongateside portion 7 facing the pane 2 and an elongate curved portion 8connecting the first and second elongate side portions 6, 7. As can beseen from FIG. 1 the first and second elongate side portions arearranged substantially at right angles to one another.

The radius of curvature of the outside surface of the curved portion 8may be from 4 mm to 15 mm. The curved portion 8 preferably extends oversubstantially 90° so that there is no unevenness between the first andsecond elongate portions 6 and 7.

The first elongate side portion 6 has apertures for screws or otherfixing means, represented diagrammatically by line 9, extendingtherethrough into the frame 1, so as to clamp the overlapping edge 3 ¹of the film 3 against the inside surface 4 of the frame. The outsidesurface 6 ¹ of the first elongate portion 6 is uneven and may be in theform of ribs, pips or other raised portions to provide frictional gripbetween the first elongate member 1 and the film edge 3 ¹, therebypreventing the overlapping edge 3 ¹ of the film being pulled away andbecoming unclamped during an impact on the pane 2.

The side 7 ¹ of the second elongate side portion 7 facing the pane 2 hasa rebate 10 therein accommodating a compression gasket 11. The gasket 11has a main cushioning portion 11 ¹ and a subsidiary cushioning portionin the form of an integral elongate flange or lip 11 ¹¹ extending fromthe main cushioning portion 11 ¹ in a direction along the pane 2 awayfrom the curved portion 8. The main cushioning portion 11 ¹ is groovedto enhance cushioning of the pane 2 and film 3 during an impact. Thegasket 11 also allows stretching movement of the film 3 across thegasket without tearing of the film 3.

The rebate 10 has two facing overhang projections 12 engaging in grooves13 on opposite sides of the main cushioning portion 11. The resultinglyformed, oppositely directed projections 14 inside the rebate 10 engagingthe underside of the overhang projections 12 and hold the gasket 11firmly on the profile 5.

It can be seen that the gasket 11 projects outwardly from the side 7 ¹of the second elongate side portion 7 and abuts against the film 3 onthe pane 2. This means that the second elongate side portion 7 is spacedfrom the pane 2 so that there is an unrestricted space 15 around thecurved portion 8 between the pane 2 and the inside surface 4 of theframe 1. This space 15, in conjunction with the curved portion 8 of theprofile 5 is crucial to the operation of the invention.

Under impact load, e.g. a bomb blast or forced entry outside the frame1, the pane 2 and the film 3 bend inwardly. The clamped portion 3 ¹ ofthe film cannot move, but the adjacent unclamped portion 3 ¹¹ of thefilm 3 can move freely, thus allowing the film 3 to stretch and henceabsorb impact energy around the curved edge portion 8, i.e. over asubstantially large area in comparison with the usual right-angle edgeof known clamping profile since the film 3 is stretched around thecurved portion 8, as opposed to a right-angle edge, the risk of tearingof the film is reduced. Thus the pane 2 can be secured againstconsiderably greater impacts than with known profiles.

The clamping profile 5 may be extruded from any suitable material, e.g.aluminium or plastics (e.g. PVC). Alternatively, the profile 5 may beformed of wood, in which case it could be solid; it should, of course,be provided with the uneven surface 6 ¹, the curved portion 8 and therebate 10 firmly retaining the gasket 11.

In FIG. 1, the film 3 and the profile 5 have been applied to the insidesurface 4 on the inside of the window pane, but they could be applied tothe outside of the window pane, i.e. to the inside surface 4 ¹ on theoutside of the window pane as long as there is sufficient distancebetween the pane 2 and the outer edge of inside surface 4 ¹.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the profile 5 is provided with a cappingmember 16. The capping member 16 has two depending legs 17, 17 ¹engaging with corresponding uprights 18, 18 ¹ on the inside of the firstelongate side portion 6 with a snap-fit.

Two cavities 19, 20 are formed between the clamping profile 5 and thecapping member 16. The cavity 19 is between the leg 17 and the secondelongate side portion 7, and the cavity 20 is between the two uprights18, 18 ¹. The cavity 19 may be filled with a bonding agent (e.g.silicone or adhesive) to prevent removal of the capping member 16 andthereby prevent access to the cavity 20 covering the screws 9 andunauthorised removal of the clamping profile 5, the film 3 and the pane2.

Although in the embodiment of FIG. 2 the capping member 16 is attachedto the profile by means of a snap-fit, this is not essential. Forexample, the legs 17, 17 ¹ and the uprights 18, 18 ¹ could be planar andbe bonded to each other by adhesive. Alternatively, the leg 17 and theuprights 18, 18 ¹ could be planar or omitted, and the leg 17 ¹ could beattached to the edge of the first elongate side portion 6 with adhesiveor a snap-fit, and the front, top edge of the capping member 16 could beattached to the edge of the second elongate member 7, also with adhesiveor with a snap-fit.

The above described invention prevents pane fall-out under impact load,e.g. a bomb blast, and also makes smash and grab or forced entry moredifficult. Because of the curved portion 8 it is difficult for alevering tool to gain purchase on the clamping profile 5. The screws 9also provide resistance against any direct force applied, e.g. by ahammer-driven wedge.

Although the above embodiments are described in relation to a window,the invention may of course be applied to a door or any other panelhaving a glass or even a plastics pane.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for securing a pane of a window or dooragainst impact comprising an adhesive film for covering the pane andoverlapping a frame surrounding said pane and a clamping profilecomprising a first elongate side portion attachable by fixing meanstherethrough to the surrounding frame to clamp the overlapping film, anda second elongate side portion having a gasket protruding therefrom forcushioning impact movement of the pane and film, wherein the first andsecond elongate side portions are substantially at right angles to eachother and are connected by an elongate curved portion of the profile soas to provide substantially continuous support for the film from thefirst elongate side portion to the gasket during an impact on the paneand thereby minimise the risk of a tear of the film during impact, theouter surface of the curved portion of the profile having a radius ofcurvature from 4 mm to 15 mm.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the outer surface of the curved portion of the profile has aradius of curvature from 4 mm to 8 mm.
 3. Apparatus as claimed claim 1,wherein the gasket is engagedly held in a rebate in the second elongateside portion to hinder withdrawal of the gasket from the rebate duringan impact on the pane.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein thegasket has oppositely directed projections engaging in the rebate tohinder withdrawl of the gasket during an impact on the pane. 5.Apparatus as claimed claim 1, wherein the gasket has a main cushioningportion and a subsidiary cushioning portion integral therewith and inthe form of an elongate flange or lip extending from the main cushioningportion in a direction away from the curved portion of the profile. 6.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first elongate side portionhas an uneven surface along a side thereof to provide a frictionclamping grip of the overlapping film against the surrounding frame. 7.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping profile is anextruded section.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein theclamping profile has an elongate capping member to hinder access to thefixings means.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cappingmember is attached to the clamping profile by means of a snap-fit. 10.Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the capping member has two legsengaging with two upright portions of the clamping profile.
 11. A windowor door having a pane and apparatus securing the pane against impactcomprising an adhesive film covering the pane and overlapping thesurrounding frame and a clamping profile comprising a first elongateside portion attached by fixing means therethrough to the surroundingframe to clamp the overlapping film, and a second elongate side portionhaving a gasket protruding therefrom for cushioning impact movement ofthe pane and film, wherein the first and second elongate side portionsare substantially at right angles to each other and are connected by anelongate curved portion of the profile to minimise the risk of tearingof the film during an impact on the pane, the outer surface of thecurved portion of the profile having a radius of curvature from 4 mm to15 mm.
 12. A window or door as claimed in claim 11, wherein theapparatus securing the pane against impact includes an adhesive film forcovering the pane and overlapping a frame surrounding said pane and aclamping profile comprising a first elongate side portion attachable byfixing means therethrough to the surrounding frame to clamp theoverlapping film, and a second elongate side portion having a gasketprotruding therefrom for cushioning impact movement of the pane andfilm, wherein the first and second elongate side portions aresubstantially at right angles to each other and are connected by anelongate curved portion of the profile so as to provide substantiallycontinuous support for the film from the first elongate side portion tothe gasket during an impact on the pane and thereby minimize the risk ofa tear of the film during impact, the outer surface of the curvedportion of the profile having a radius of curvature from 4 mm to 15 mmas claimed in claim
 1. 13. A method of securing a pane of a window ordoor against impact using apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprisingcovering the pane and overlapping the surrounding frame with theadhesive film, positioning the clamping profile on the surrounding frameso that the gasket abuts against the film on the pane and the firstelongate portion abuts against the overlapping film on the surroundingframe, and attaching the first elongate side portion to the surroundingframe by fixing means therethrough so as to clamp the overlapping filmagainst the surrounding frame.